Augusta County: Jesse Rolston, Jr., to Mary Rolston, February
28, 1864
Summary:
Rolston writes of finding out his son is of drafting age, and of his desire to get out of the
army.
February the 28 1864
Camp 52nd Va infantry
Summervill Ford
Orange Cty.
Va
Dear anaffection companion
I seat my self to drop you a few lines. this will inform you that i am well and hoap that when this comes to hand it may find you injoying the Same blesing i received. i received the letter yours of the 23rd yesterday and was happy to heare from you all and that you was all in good health but am sorry that you are so through other. i hoap that this may find you all right. I no when one gets to studing they dont feel so well for i have had the trial of it more than once. this appears to me to be a hard way of liveing the way things goas now days but then i think their is a better day a coming and that chears me up [a]gain and i look forward to the future and hoap this cruel war will soon come to an end and so we can return to our hoames and have the pleasure of sitting around our own fireside with our wives and children. i think often of the times that is past an goan and think of the times that is now. what a change of afairs in a few years. it is enough to make one shuder to think of it. [part of the letter is missing or illegible at this point] Doctor Robson was down heare a few days a go and he told me that some of the neighbours was or had reported John had for to be oald enough for service but David Kyle said he would do all he could to keep him with you and the Doctor said he would do all he could in our behaf. i did or dont think John Rolston is 18 teen yet but i sorta forgot his age but if he is 18 teen they cant keep him out of service i am a fraid. You stated in your last letter that some of the neighbours thought that their was a chance for me to be exempted as a farmer. the sooner you attend to it the better it will be. i havent much chance to do anything of that kind heare and you could do more with it than i could heare. their is nothing like trying. you wish to no what i think about our chance about the times of war. it is a hard question but i dont think that our chance looks as gloomy as it did some months a go. the soaldiers is is pretty good sperits now to what they was some time a go. those peopel that goas to the yanks i judge they are of northern sentiments or ought to be. if they think they are rite i wont stop them if i had the chance. for my part i dont feal like going their myself as yet i think if the South [torn away]
